Sameer Rizvi’s masterclass guides Delhi Capitals to clinical victory

Sameer Rizvi showcased nerves of steel to steer Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday. Chasing a modest target of 142 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Delhi overcame a horrific start to secure their fifth consecutive win against the Lucknow franchise.

Disaster struck early for the visitors as Mohammed Shami dismissed KL Rahul for a golden duck on the very first ball of the innings. When skipper Axar Patel fell for a duck shortly after, Delhi were struggling at 30/4 within the first five overs. However, the momentum shifted when Sameer Rizvi joined forces with Tristan Stubbs.

Rizvi, playing with remarkable maturity, hammered an unbeaten 70 off 47 deliveries. His partnership with Stubbs, which yielded 119 runs, effectively neutralised the threat posed by LSG’s debutant Prince Yadav. Stubbs played the perfect anchor role, finishing on 39 not out as Delhi crossed the finish line with 17 balls to spare.

Lucknow's Batting Collapse

Earlier, the home side failed to capitalise on their familiar turf, getting bundled out for 141. While Mitchell Marsh provided some initial sparks with 35 runs, the middle order crumbled under pressure. Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan dismantled the lineup, claiming three wickets each, while Kuldeep Yadav’s spin variations stifled the scoring rate.

Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium is notorious for its sluggish nature, often favouring disciplined spin bowling over raw pace, a factor that Delhi exploited perfectly. This win cements Delhi's dominance over Lucknow, marking the third time in IPL history they have achieved such a winning streak against a single opponent.

With Agency Inputs